THE parents of Madeleine McCann welcomed “such great news” that a teenage girl was found alive nearly three months after her alleged kidnap - refuelling hope that one day they will be reunited with their missing daughter.

American school girl Jayme Closs, 13 - who is two years younger than Maddie would now be - had a miracle escape from a man accused of abducting her after her mum and dad were murdered.

Jayme Closs, who was missing since her parents were shot dead at home in October, found in street after ‘escaping kidnapper’s house’

As the freed youngster was pictured smiling beside her relieved aunt on Friday, the official Find Maddie Campaign posted online: “Such great news. Jayme is an example of why we never lose hope and never stop searching."

The Facebook page, endorsed by Maddie’s parents Kate and Gerry, also highlighted a message from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children - a non-proft organisation funded by the US which has given help and encouragement over the years to them.

The NCMEC, based in Washington, posted: “Feeling thankful. We are overjoyed by the news that 13-year-old Jayme from Barron, Wisconsin, has been located alive after nearly three months.

"We applaud the Barron County Sherrif’s Department and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department and all of the investigating agencies for their exhaustive efforts to bring her home.

21-year-old Jake Patternis being held for two counts of first degree intentional homicide and and one count of kidnapping of Jayme

“People assume children are always abducted by paedophiles but they can also be taken by someone who just wants a child to bring up as their own."

This week The Sun Online revealed that Maddie’s parents had been storing £100,000 in a special account to help them fight a long and bitter legal battle against former Portuguese police chief Goncalo Amaral.

They received a “very welcoming” cash boos yo a fund set up to help find their daughter which they are “keeping for a rainy day.”

It comes as the Met Police were last autumn handed their latest £150,000 from the public purse to continue the Maddie investigation until the end of March.

Madeleine McCann's father Gerry McCann describes 'disbelief, panic and terror' at moment he realised daughter was missing in rare interview

The couple have been rewarded with assets to the Maddie Fund of £822 382, according to latest accounts filed this week to Companies House.

This has soared from £727,508 in the last financial year to the end of March 2018 by £94,874

The main increase was from Kate’s best seller 2011 book “Madeleine”, which was re-sold in 2017 for the 10th anniversary of the youngster’s abduction.

Royalties of £84,096 came from the book sale with a total of £85,899 being transferred to a restricted fund.

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A source close to heart doctor Gerry and ex-GP Kate, both 50, of Rothley, Leics, said: “That money goes into a special account for a rainy day.

“It can be used at a later date in the search for Madeleine or to help her parents fight their on going legal battle against Mr Amaral.

The balance has increased, largely as a result of further royalties from Kate’s book, all of which she has given to the Fund and they say is very welcoming.”

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